Banjara

Refined Indian cuisine a cut above the local competition.

by Jessica Allen

The decor’s subdued maroons, golds and silvery whites, offset by the occasional flourish in glitter, belie this restaurant’s fiery specialties. Liberal use of peppercorns, coriander, cumin, mint, red chiles, Indian pickles and other herbs elevate the menu’s mostly traditional dishes from northern India, such as subzi jal frazie, lamb vindaloo and murg tandoori (chicken marinated in yogurt and wine, then baked in a clay oven). Banjara also offers dumpakht, in which a juicy stew of meat, fish or vegetables is cooked in a puffy pastry shell.

11/07/05

Not the Same Old, Same Old

by kem31753

A friend and I went for lunch to scout out the restaurant for a future party. The menu was not the usual tired dishes (although if your favorite is not on the menu, it says they will make it for you!) The entrees were outstanding. I would recommend, though, that if you like your food fiery be sure to stress that. I requested my food to be spicy, but the chef must have thought I was kidding, and sent back something very, very mild. It was so flavorful, however, I didn't mind.

• Pros: Food & prices, Menu is diverse, Festive drinks
• Cons: No parking, Up the heat!

09/02/05

Great food, terrible service

by jen_terry

We like the creamy chicken maslam and new favorite, chicken dumpkapht. The appetizers are small but tasty. One thing you can count on, poor service. The hostess also takes the orders and clears the tables. She is always running around on the phone. You are pressured to order more than you want. The "servers" are too busy running around, panicked and screaming at each other, to help customers. Want a water refill? Best to ask for 2-3 glasses extra and leave them on the table, you may not get anymore. Last night, we asked for our leftovers to go- 2 chicken dishes and rice (each were half portions, not just a couple bites). We said what we wanted to go twice, and for clarity, pointed to the dishes. Waitress threw one out, wasnt sorry, wouldnt replace it, but gave us extra rice. And she was rude. Great food, terrible service.

• Pros: food, price
• Cons: service, small tables, some uncomfy chairs

08/15/05

Diamond in the Rough

by kganancial

Banjara was my first take on Indian cuisine (a few years back) and since then I've had dreams about their food! Not only is their service outstanding and courteous but their tasty selection is amazing. I've pretty much had everything on the menu but for the newbies I highly recommend their Salan Curry chicken accompanied with Raita to curve the fire.

• Pros: service, food
• Cons: wait

12/09/04

Yummy, yummy!!!

by nolalola

Banjara is so different from other Indian restaurants on 6th Street between First and Second Avenues that it will put the commonly put forth theory of one underground kitchen to shame!

Try, especially, the lamb dumpakht: the lamb is cooked with almonds, bay leaves, and sticks of cinnamon, in a creammy tomato sauce, then sealed with a delicious bread and baked. It's brought to the table sealed up and piping hot, and absolutely unusually delicious!

I also loved a desert of cheese in a spiced milky sauce. Refreshing and tasty end to a meal. I've gotten it on the house several times after my meal.

Very reasonable wine list, and a decent selection. Decor is nice, service is friendly and unobtrusive, although, as many have complained, there is a little bit of an upsell element, and water refills weren't as often as I would like.

Great place for a date!

• Pros: Unusual Indian dishes

11/14/04

Great food, great value

by jxhusa

Went with a group of 7 ppl; the food was terrific. The appetizers, though small, were crisp and not overly greasy. The main courses were equally well prepared, and the overall bill was ridiculously low for NY (although we did not order drinks). Although we did not have a problem with our orders, the waiters seemed to disappear when we needed water, and then the bill. Additionally, our table was extremely small. Nonetheless, it was a wonderful meal, and one of the best Indian places in Manhattan.

• Pros: Food, Value
• Cons: , Service

10/25/04

Bad Service

by lclo

After reading all the good reviews on citysearch, we decided to try this restaurant. This place CANNOT accomodate large groups. They mixed up our orders (and we didn't know which was whose until we asked them repeatedly) and my order did not arrive until after everyone was DONE eating. (when we kept asking about my order the waiters said it was coming, but finally one waiter confessed that they had messed it up). They did not apologize for their error and didn't seem to care.

The food was decent but the service was horrible.

• Pros: decent food

10/07/04

Best on 6th

by carlbillek

The best on 6th Street that I've been to. The food is always excellent, service is attentive, atmosphere is pleasant. Banjara is far, far superior to Angon, which is incredibly overhyped.

• Pros: Food, Service

07/20/04

A standout on the East Village's Indian restaurant row.

by Contributor

The Scene
In a neighborhood where Indian restaurants trade more on shimmer than subtlety, Banjara's approach seems almost daringly antithetical. The room is mostly dark, and often eerily silent. And with the exception of bathroom collages that look like they were culled from the pages of the country's version of Teen People magazine, most of the decor is tastefully restrained--a fresh-cut yellow rose brightens each table, while a colorful tapestry hangs from a back wall.

The Food
Tasteful restraint also defines Banjara's region-hopping menu, particularly the spicing, which favors flavor over fire. Occasionally, subtlety feels more like timidity, as in a meek jhinga til tikka (charcoal-fired prawns), but more often than not, well-deployed doses of strong, earthy spices give the food the personality it needs. A standout is the warming palak ghost (chicken or lamb in a puree of spinach, tomato and ginger).

12/31/03

Delicious

by som1

I Love Indian food! Something about it just does it for me, and this place is one of the best. Delicious food that taste fresher than any other idian in NYC And have I said it also a bargain in terms of their prices.

Make sure to check it out!